On a black background there is a profile of a head with a light colored line-art brain in the middle. The brain has bright spots in various areas. From front and back, waves made of vertical lines emanate from the head.
December 22, 2025
To flexibly organize thought, the brain makes use of space
A 4 by 2 array of panels shows neurons in a brain section. Green "Myc" labeling indicates the presence of a receptor. Magenta "fos" labeling indicates neural activity. There is more magenta on the bottom row, which is labeled "IL-1B"
November 25, 2025
Too sick to socialize: How the brain and immune system promote staying in bed
A view of the upper right quadrant of a cross section of a mouse brain. An arc of tissue extends from the top left to the bottom right. Along the arc there are stripes of neurons glowing in eithe red or green in distinct layers of the tissue
November 25, 2025
Prefrontal cortex reaches back into the brain to shape how other regions function
Andres Crane sits at a lab computer while Troy Littleton stands behind him looking over his shoulder at the screen.
November 20, 2025
RNA editing study finds many ways for neurons to diversify
A closeup of a woman's bright green eye
November 19, 2025
MIT study shows how vision can be rebooted in adults with amblyopia

Connect or reject: Extensive rewiring builds binocular vision in the brain

July 1, 2025
Research Findings
A first-of-its-kind study in mice reveals that neurons add and shed synapses at a frenzied pace during development to integrate visual signals from the two eyes.

As textbook’s 5th edition hits shelves, Bear reflects on introducing many 1,000s of students to neuroscience

June 18, 2025
Picower People
With an emphasis on approachability, “Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain” enters its fourth decade as the text of undergraduate neuroscience classes worldwide

Autism advances

June 16, 2025
Research Feature
Rooted in fundamental curiosity about how the brain works, Picower scientists continue to break new ground in understanding autism and devising treatment strategies

Aging Brain Initiative seed grants fund five new projects to address neurodegenerative disease

June 9, 2025
New Research
Campuswide collaboration sparks new research to develop assistive technology, enhance interventions, decipher brain biochemistry, advance big data analysis, and assess the public’s understanding of dementia risk and protective factors.

Different anesthetics, same result: unconsciousness by shifting brainwave phase

May 12, 2025
Research Findings
MIT study finds that an easily measurable brain wave shift may be a universal marker of unconsciousness under anesthesia

The how and why of the brain’s division across hemispheres

May 12, 2025
Research Findings
Why does the brain split visual spatial perception between its hemispheres? A new review examines the advantages and trade-offs, and how the brain ultimately makes vision feel seamless.

Dopamine signals when a fear can be forgotten

April 28, 2025
Research Findings
Study shows how a dopamine circuit between two brain regions enables mice to extinguish fear after a peril has passed.

MIT Down syndrome researchers work on ways to ensure a healthy lifespan

April 24, 2025
Picower Events
An Alana Down Syndrome Center webinar, co-sponsored by the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress, presented numerous MIT studies that all share the goal of improving health throughout life for people with trisomy 21.

In Down syndrome mice, 40Hz light and sound improve cognition, neurogenesis, connectivity

April 24, 2025
Research Findngs
Study provides new evidence that sensory stimulation of gamma-frequency brain rhythm may promote broad-based restorative neurological health response.

With Searle Scholar award, Fan will study serotonin role in memory

April 22, 2025
Picower People
Assistant Professor Linlin Fan will apply her lab’s precise “all-optical” techniques to study how serotonin might influence plasticity in memory, and whether psychedelics affect that.

In kids, EEG monitoring of consciousness safely reduces anesthetic use

April 21, 2025
Research Findings
Clinical trial finds several outcomes improved for young children when an anesthesiologist observed their brain waves to guide dosing of sevoflurane during surgery.

A simple animal’s response to sickness highlights the nervous system’s surprising degrees of flexibility

April 8, 2025
Research Findings
Upon infection, the C. elegans worm reshuffles the roles of brain cells and flips the functions of some of the chemicals it uses to regulate behavior.